Tdot Shots Toronto and GTA Photo Contest 2024
Looking for information about the current contest? You’re in the right place. Read on for rules.
We proudly host an annual photo contest which celebrates the best in Greater Toronto cityscape, street and landscape photography. For general information and past contests visit the Tdot Shots Photo Contest page. Our contest has run every year since 2019.
This year our photo contest runs for four weeks! Enter as many images and videos as you wish but make them count! High quality shots and reels will win prizes including $100 professional printing credits from our sponsor Prolab Canada.
Contest Dates: Oct. 3 – Oct. 31 / Instagram Hashtag #Tdot_24
Welcome to the 5th version of our annual photo contest.
This year, 2024, our theme is “Creative Community” – we celebrate the creativity and community that goes into all aspects of photography from artistic to technical to personal and social. Contest entrants are encouraged to use carousel posts that include alternate images, original unedited versions, photos of your collaborators and friends, and explain their thought process and artistic intent. Write about your image and process in the caption. Talk abut your motivation and who you shoot with! 👍
Short version of the rules – Use our photo contest hashtag #tdot_24 on your Instagram posts from Oct. 3 – Oct. 31. Read on for full rules and tips!
Categories
We welcome photos in a variety of categories and genres including:
- Cityscape and Architecture
- Landscape and Nature
- Street and Culture
Scroll for more information about these categories.
Prizes & Sponsor
We are grateful for the return of our primary sponsor Prolab Canada.
Prizes for winners this year include $100 professional photo printing certificates from the experts at Prolab and runners-up will receive a variety of photography and creative tools and services.
Thank you Prolab, for supporting our contest since the first iteration in 2019. We couldn’t do this without you!
Volunteers and Judges
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back our team of judges, all of whom have helped with judging previous photo contests over the past 6 years. Our judges include Michèle Thompson aka @magpie_n_moo, and Kurt Wang aka @kurt.wang. Our team is supported by Mike Simpson aka @tdot_mike
Contest Rules
Please read carefully to understand the scope and limitations for contestants and their images.
How to enter
Entering the contest is easy. Use our contest hashtag #tdot_24 on your Instagram posts during the period of the contest, Oct. 3-Oct.31. Photo location and subject matter should be Greater Toronto or Ontario. We support local!
You must follow our page @tdot_shots and the page of our sponsor @prolabcanada (we will confirm this at the end of the contest).
Please retain original images for our inspection. For all categories we prioritize images that are local or regional, made in Toronto area or Ontario. Images containing geolocation are an asset.
Category Descriptions
– Cityscape and Architecture (cityscape, buildings and landmarks,
– Landscape and Nature (land, sky, water, natural environment, including some limited structures)
– Street and Culture (public spaces, community events, people, transit, and sidewalks/streets)
Please Retain originals. Winners may be required to provide the original photo for judges analysis.
Show Your Creativity and Community (Tips for Entrants)
First of all, to reiterate, this is a contest based on two things: image quality and creative process. You are more likely to win if you post 5 images that describe your tools, technique and intent, than 30 images with no caption or process reveal. Remember, use of the carousel can help you get your process across to our judges. Talk about your crew and people you collaborate with. Captions on Instagram permit hundreds of words.
Note: for contest evaluation purposes we judge the first image in your carousel. The rest are supporting only. Do not use watermarks, frames, text or graphics on your first image.
Rights
When you participate in this contest you agree to let us repost your work. However, you retain all rights to your images and video, including copyright. We do not claim any exclusivity and we will not sell or distribute your work to third parties. We may repost your images in posts, stories or video on our social media or website.
Notes about these posts
Image 1: Moon and Birds
The GTA photographer @digigraphs includes an explanation of the result and process. Location is provided. For the purposes of this contest location of your photo must be in one of the Greater Toronto towns or cities listed on this page. So @digigraphs photo from location #1, Newmarket would qualify if posted during the contest period using the contest hashtag #tdot_23.
Image 2: Chinatown Multiple Exposure
Toronto area photographer @minds.vision explains their artistic process and how a double exposure technique was used to create an in-camera effect. The location is recognizable as Chinatown in downtown Toronto so would qualify for this contest. For your images keep the original for inspection if you win so we can make sure the image is yours.
Please consider following the artists!
Digigraphs – by Mohsen Majnoon (@digigraphs) • Instagram photos and videos
Andre Vujovic (@minds.vision) • Instagram photos and videos
Definition of Greater Toronto Area
We will use the definition by which the towns and cities or “municipalities,” adjacent Toronto will be considered. At this time we do not include Hamilton or Niagara.
In the Greater Toronto Area, there are 25 incorporated municipalities in either York Region, Halton Region, Peel Region, Durham Region or Toronto.
Towns and Cities include:
Ajax
Aurora
Brampton
Brock
Burlington
Caledon
Clarington
East Gwillimbury
Georgina
Halton Hills
King
Markham
Milton
Mississauga
Newmarket
Oakville
Oshawa
Pickering
Richmond Hill
Scugog
Toronto
Uxbridge
Vaughan
Whitby
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Tips
Do
- Post your images and videos between Oct. 3 and Oct. 31
- Use our contest hashtag #Tdot_24 (in caption)
- Follow our page @tdot_shots and our sponsor @prolabcanada
- Use carousels and put your best image at the start
- Describe your process and artistic intent
- View full rules and contest description at the contest page
Don’t
- Ignore the rules (you will be wasting your time!)
- add any text, borders or graphics to your images
- Photoshop your images (sky replacements are a no-no, we will ask for original files)
- use wide aspect (16×9, 4×3) as it doesn’t look as good on social
- back tag your old images before Oct. 3, 2024 (they won’t count)
- forget to join our Awards Ceremony Meetup (Nov. 2 – downtown)
Questions and Support
Please feel free to do the following if you have questions about the contest or seek support:
- Send us an email via our contact page
- Join our creative community (we provide tips and feedback!)
All the best and good luck to all who enter! 🍀🤞
Mike Simpson
Founder, Tdot Shots and Tdot Create
